So you want to have a child and have decided that the time is just right to raise a family? The funny thing is most couples end up figuring out that there’s almost never the “perfect time” to have a child. You kind of just have to make a decision and dive in.

Planning a conception always a good idea, preparation can be a determining factor with success even in a broad or general sense. There are many ways in which you can give your body a natural fertility boost when it comes to conceiving. You could check out Lisa Olson’s Pregnancy Miracle video and e-book for the best ways of getting pregnant. There are, of course, some generic, easy-to-adopt tips that you can try out on your own.

Have regular, unprotected sex

Remember, you can’t have babies if you don’t have sex, especially regular and unprotected sex for a continued period of time. Anytime is good so long as you have sex every two or three days through the month. The idea is to take pleasure in the activity and not look at it as a necessity to become pregnant. While scientific research does not exist to support any theories on the best sexual positions for getting pregnant, so-called “experts” suggest the `missionary position’ as the best option. And supposedly it also helps to lie low after intercourse to improve your pregnancy chances. And one last tip – don’t overdo it, however desperate you might be to get pregnant. You don’t want to jeopardize your relationship or make sex feel like a chore. It’s supposed to be one of the greatest activities ever so keep it that way if you can and don’t hesitate to seek out help if things start going downhill.

Understand your cycle

While psychologically and emotionally there’s no need to have sex to coincide with your ovulation time: biologically speaking, timing is important. Understanding your cycle will help improve your chances of getting pregnant. This is simple biology as fertilization of your egg is imperative for conception and the egg is usually released around the 14th day of your cycle. After that, there’s just about a six-day window to conceive. However, regular sex will help you have better quality sperm so that, during ovulation, you’d have healthy sperm to fertilize your egg.

Take supplements

Folic acid supplement is really good for women wanting to get pregnant. The exact dosage would need to be prescribed by your doctor as the quantity may vary from woman to woman. Having folic acid while trying for pregnancy (at least for three months before conceiving) and for the initial 12 weeks of pregnancy minimizes the chances of having a baby with certain medical conditions such as spina bifida.

Avoid stress and change your lifestyle

Stress can have a psychologically impairing effect for women striving for pregnancy and needs to avoided at all costs. You can do so by making certain simple lifestyle changes to help you relax. Exercising is one such change you can adopt when trying to get pregnant. But be cautious against overdoing it as intensive exercise is known to cause infertility. So exercising in moderation, coupled with finding ample relaxation time for yourself, would be a good idea if you want to have a baby.

Stop smoking and drinking

Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption have been diagnosed as factors in causing infertility. Naturally, then, giving up on both will help boost your chances of conceiving. Actually, smoking and drinking too much can also hamper the development of healthy sperm in men. Medical experts thus advise both men and women to give up smoking and drinking if they’re planning on having a family.

Keep your body weight under control

Your chances of conceiving are better if you have a healthy body mass index (BMI). Being overweight can lead to problems such as hormonal imbalance and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), which in turn cause infertility. On the other hand, it’s not a good idea to be underweight either, as that also hampers proper conception. Regular monitoring of your weight will help keep it in check if you’re planning to have babies.

Timing is important

It’s okay to leave babies out of your life plan for a few years but you shouldn’t leave it till too late. Actually, your fertility it at its peak in your early twenties but postponing it beyond your early 40s will hamper your chances even if you’re nowhere near your menopause yet.

Eat healthy foods

By healthy foods we mean stuff that’s known to improve your chances of fertility. Certain diet changes are quite beneficial for women wanting to have a baby. Your carbohydrate intake definitely needs to be cut down, if not eliminated, from your diet if you’re trying to get pregnant. So no cookies or cakes or white bread and white rice, at least for a few months before your planned conception! These foods tend to raise the insulin levels in the body, which in turns inhibit ovulation. However, there are certain good carbs that have a more gradual effect on your insulin and blood sugar levels and can, therefore, be taken in moderation. These include fruits and vegetables, beans and whole grains – you can find more info on that here.

Don’t let your partner wear tight briefs

Really, for his family jewels and also maybe even for his swagger. To ensure healthy sperm, you need to stop your partner from wearing tight briefs. Prolonged exposure to heat is also not good for a man’s sperm, so be careful about how long your partner spends out there in the sun or in hot baths or tubs.

Conclusion

Science doesn’t necessarily have all the answers when it comes to find the best ways to get pregnant. But you can try out a healthy mix of time-tested suggestions, natural remedies and scientific theories if you want to get pregnant naturally and safely without any medical intervention. Medical treatment for improving your chances of conceiving should, at best, be your last resort.

Basic changes in diet and lifestyle can make a huge difference between conceiving and not conceiving, and hence should probably be the first step you should take while trying to get pregnant. These changes are among the easiest method of conceiving and usually work quite well.